When you're trying to lose weight or keep fit, one of the hardest things to do isn’t always the diet itself, but sticking with it longer-term. Sometimes,
all you need is a little motivation from someone to keep you going. For a slimming geek, the Autom robot could come in
handy.

Autom is a tabletop robot that's designed to help you lose weight with on-screen advice and motivation, and it also learns what works best for you over
time. The robot learns by asking questions and holding conversations with you regarding your progress. In addition to motivational conversations, Autom
will log your progress and meals and help you plan your goals, and it also works as a calorie-count database with information on 75,000 foods.

Aside from the slightly creepy face, the little robot has a large touchscreen on the front so you can search through the food database, browse meal
suggestions and cooking tips, and answer Autom’s questions.

The robot receives updates every month, ranging from new things to talk about to additions to its food database.

Of course, there are limitations. For instance, Autom needs an Internet connection in order to get fresh information. Also, while the robot only costs
$199, you also have to sign up for a $20 monthly subscription plan to receive the updates.

If you're serious about improving your eating and exercising habits, though, you might find that it’s a small price to pay to help you stick to your plan.
Autom doesn’t ship until 2013, but you can pre-order from the My Autom website.